title: Bullying in early adolescence and its association with anti-social behaviour, criminality and violence 6 and 10 years later.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few longitudinal studies have examined the links between engagement in bullying and later anti-social behaviour for both males and females.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to examine the association between adolescent bullying behaviour and subsequent anti-social behaviour, among a community sample of Australian males and females.
  
  
  METHODS
  Regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between bullying perpetration at age 13-14 and anti-social behaviour, criminal violence and contact with police or courts 6 and 10 years later among approximately 800 young adults participating in a 27-year longitudinal study. The analyses controlled for known risk factors for anti-social behaviour at age 13-14 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Moderate significant associations were found between bullying perpetration and subsequent anti-social behaviour. Associations were more powerful for males than females, and for short-term than long-term outcomes. Engagement in bullying remained a significant predictor of later anti-social behaviour and contact with police or courts even after other risk factors were accounted for.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that bullying in adolescence may be a marker of risk for a continuing pattern of anti-social behaviour, particularly among young males.
authors.affiliation: Australian Institute of Family Studies, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Renda
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vassallo
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D058445:Bullying / Q000523:psychology*; D057237:Criminals / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012919:Social Behavior; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult